On toight's edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Audrey Thomas McCluskey. She is an American writer and professor emeriti.

Dr. Audrey Thomas McCluskey

She is an alumna of Indiana University where she was an African American and African Diaspora Studies professor and former director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. She received a B.A. magna cum laude from Clark Atlanta University, an M.A. in African Studies, from Howard University, and a Ph.D. in Historical and Comparative Education from IU. She wrote the book Forgotten Sisterhood about four influential female African American educators in the South.

In describing tonight’s guest, the Herald Times wrote the following: “Author, editor and Indiana University professor emerita Audrey McCluskey grew up in America’s Jim Crow South. While no longer teaching classes at IU, she is sharing through her latest book — her memoir, GIRLCHILD: Growing Up between the Pines and Palms in Jim Crow Georgia and Florida. You can purchase her book at audreytmccluskey.com, Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.

We then ends tonights broadcast with two segments of "Dark Past, Bright Future", which are produced and narrated by Liz Mitchell. They are about Madame C.J. Walker and James Somerset, a former slave that sued for and won his freedom.

Credits:
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our assistant producer is Liz Mitchell.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

Dale Botting

In this edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Dale Botting. He is a former Canadian Deputy Minister, the founding CEO of Enterprise and Innovation Saskatchewan, and the current head of Botting Leadership Inc. Through his business coaching services, he has served hundreds of organizations and executives across North America in Small Business, Industry, Indigenous, Non-Profit, and University communities.

Within business coaching, he is well-respected. Dale was recognized by his peers as the Business Coach of the Year for all of Western North America in 2016 and was the first inductee into the Canadian Business Coaches Hall of Fame in 2022. He has degrees and academic awards in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Geography, and Education. Tnus, he is a man who profoundly understands both science and business. He spends the hour with Bring It On! to discuss the current state of U.S. and Canada relations.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarenece Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Jane Elliott, noted civil rights activist and racial bias educator. Jane Elliot will be in Bloomington, IN, speaking at The Monroe County History Center on October 2nd and 3rd at 6 PM, and then on October 4th and 5th at 3 PM.

Jane Elliott

Jane Elliott, 91, is an American diversity educator. As a schoolteacher, she magnified the ramifications of racism with her "Blue eyes/Brown eyes" classroom exercise. She first performed the exercise with her all white, third-grade class in Riceville, IA, on April 5, 1968. It was the day after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The Associated Press picked up the story first by becoming aware of the published compositions that the children had written about the experience in the local newspaper. From there,  national and even international attention grew.

Jane Elliott was featured on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, and the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) ran a documentary on her in 1970, The Eye of the Storm. Thereafter,  Jane Elliott began to receive public attention, most of it negative. Her family suffered, and there were fears about her and her family's safety. To this day, some in Riceville, IA, have fixed feelings about Jane Elliott and her Blue and Brown Eyed exercise. In December 1970, Elliott attended the White House Conference on Children, where she held the exercise with adults, an audience comprised mostly of other educators,  physicians, social workers, and other professionals who worked with children.

PBS series Frontline featured a reunion of the 1970 class, as well as Elliott's work with adults, in its 1985 episode "A Class Divided". Invitations to speak and to conduct her exercise eventually led Elliott to give up school teaching and to become a full-time public speaker against discrimination. She has directed the exercise and lectured on its effects in many places throughout the world.  She has also conducted the exercise with college students, as seen in the 2001 documentary The Angry Eye. Despite criticism of her methods and the diversity training field she pioneered, Elliott continues to lead her exercise in workshops.



Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté

In tonight's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Monroe County Sheriff Ruben Marté. He joins us this evening to discuss updates on his administration and to provide a progress report on his reelection campaign as Monroe County Sheriff.

Ruben Marté was elected Sheriff of Monroe County in November 2022. He won the race against Republican nominee Nathan Williamson with 62.2% of the vote. With over 31 years of experience with the Indiana State Police. He was a captain in the office of the superintendent and was a pioneering force in his own right. In his first campaign, Sheriff Marté ran on a platform with four key elements: increasing public safety, reducing the rate of recidivism and reentry in the justice system, enhancing training for all sheriff’s office employees, and expanding public outreach and community engagement.

After being sworn in, Sheriff Marté has shed light on poor structural conditions and overcrowding at the jail, and has routinely advocated for improvements. He is now running for reelection in 2026 and officially began his campaign on June 12 of this year. So far in Marté's service as sheriff, he has increased correctional staff in-service training by over 500%, and increased mental health and other related services in the correctional facility to address re-offenses. If reelected, Marté will prioritize staff training and support, maintain jail safety, and develop a model new jail for other communities.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

On tonight's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell showcase the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and the African American Arts Institute on the Indiana University Bloomington Campus. Our guests today are:

* Dr. Gloria Howell is the director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center (NMCC) at Indiana University.
* Professor Raymond Wise is the Executive Director of the African American Arts Institute (AAAI) and the director of the African American Choral Ensemble.
* Professor James Strong is director of the IU Soul Revue and visiting professor in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University Bloomington.

Dr. Gloria Howell and Professors Strong and Wise are here tonight to provide an overview of the upcoming cultural events offered by the NMCC and AAAI.

In January 2002, the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center at Indiana University was officially dedicated in honor of the first African American man and woman to graduate from Indiana University: Marcellus Neal earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895, and Frances Marshall received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1919.

The African American Arts Institute preserves and promotes excellence in African American music, dance, and culture. Its history began in the early 1970s. First, in 1971, the IU Soul Revue was established, and then, in 1974, the African American Dance Company was founded. One year later, in 1975, the African American Choral Ensemble was established to provide students with the opportunity to study and perform various forms of choral music that evolved out of the Black experience. These three ensembles have become integral components of the African American Arts Institute, while they are also offered as courses through the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

From the Winter 2015 issue of Traces, see IndianaHistory.org

 

Eunice Trotter, Director of Indiana Landmark's Black Heritage Preservation Program.

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Eunice Trotter, the Director of Indiana Landmark's Black Heritage Preservation Program, and Leon Bates, a historian and member of the Indiana Remembrance Coalition. According to the Indiana Historical Bureau, the earliest report of African Americans living in what would become Indiana is from a 1746 report on French settlements, stating that five black slaves accompanied a settlement of forty white men in Vincennes on the Wabash River.

When Indiana became a state, antislavery sentiments dominated, and the 1816 Constitution outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude. Combined with subsequent Indiana Supreme Court rulings in favor of blacks over several decades, slavery was slowly eliminated. Eliminating slavery did not, however, guarantee equal civil rights to African-Americans in Indiana. They did not have the right to vote, serve in the military, or testify in court cases involving white claimants. Black children did not have the right to attend public schools. In addition, after 1831, black settlers in Indiana were required to register with county authorities and to post a $500 bond as a guarantee of good behavior. This is a measure to dissuade African-American settlement. Nonetheless, Indiana became an important part of the Underground Railroad.

Preserving this history is part of the mission for Eunice Trotter when she became the Director of Indiana Landmarks' new Black Heritage Preservation Program on September 1, 2022. She is a longtime journalist, historian, and community organizer. Trotter brings more than 30 years of experience focused on communications, research, advocacy, and mentorship. In her position, she coordinates a broad initiative to identify, save, and celebrate places significant to Indiana’s Black history.

Leon Bate stands by a historical marker remembering the 1845 lynching of John Tucker. Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

Leon Bates, a historian and member of the Indiana Remembrance Coalition, has helped to research the lives of unknown Black Hoosiers. He started this quest over a decade ago, after becoming upset with a former deputy mayor who he said claimed Madam C.J. Walker was the only Black person worthy of a statue or monument. Historical markers are one way Hoosiers can get a bite-sized portion of Indiana history. There are over 750 across 92 state counties, including more than 100 in Marion County. But, due to state and federal budget cuts, including 16 layoffs at the Indiana State Library, some local historians say residents could see fewer of these markers around the city and state. And, according to Leon Bates, that means “important stories will go untold”.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

In tonight's episode of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the evening with Marcous Friday to discuss the history of the Black Rodeo in America.

Marcous Friday

Marcous Friday has been Arizona’s Black Rodeo announcer for more than 10 years. He says the rodeo experience is amazing: “We’re able to showcase African American cowboys and cowgirls, which is very rare.” It is a testament to the resilience of African Americans. “Back in the day when the cowboys couldn’t even compete in the white rodeos, and if they did, they had to go after the rodeo, so they started these all-black associations because they could not go to a lot of the white rodeos,” explained Friday, as he prepared to announce the rodeo in front of a sold-out crowd in Westworld Arena in Arizona.





Regarding the history of rodeos, Jason and Rae Miller share the following: “Rodeos have long been a tradition that often gets associated with Western culture. Despite this, what we have seen on the big screen and in many history books is not the complete story. Many of these pieces of media influence overlooked and marginalized the Black cowboys and cowgirls that were a part of the tradition. Nationwide information about black rodeo events can be found at Black Rodeo USA. For example, the Roy Leblanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo, with a 70-year history, will take place on August 8-9, 2025, in Okmulgee, OK. It is also one of Oklahoma's longest-running rodeos and one of the largest African-American sporting events in the entire nation.

The Roy Leblanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo & Festival 2025 is the nation's oldest African-American rodeo. It will be in Okmulgee, OK, on August 8-9, 2025. It is also known as the Okmulgee Black Rodeo. The Roy Leblanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo is also one of Oklahoma's longest-running rodeos overall and one of the largest African-American sporting events in the entire nation.

 

Mary Fields, also known as Stagecoach Mary and Black Mary, was an American mail carrier who was the first Black woman to be employed as a star route postwoman in the United States. Fields held the Star Route contract for delivering U.S. mail from Cascade, Montana, to Saint Peter's Mission. She was born in 1832 in Hickman County, TN, and she died on December 5, 1914, in Great Falls, MT. She is one of the many unknown figures of the Black cowboy and cowgirl history.

The black rodeo functions like a traditional rodeo. It’s full of events like bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, and steer wrestling. It emphasizes the talents, skills, and heritage of Black cowboys and cowgirls. At the same time, the black rodeo celebrates the many cowboys and cowgirls who often got the short end of the stick. Few people have documented their stories like many others in rodeo. Some played significant roles in cattle ranching, cattle drives, and rodeo sports.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell welcome Attorney Jerome Ezell, Indiana’s 3rd black appointed State Trooper. Mr. Ezell had over 50 years of service to Indiana Law Enforcement. State police are specialized law enforcement agencies that operate under state governments in the United States, distinct from local police and federal agencies. Their primary functions include highway safety, traffic control, and criminal investigations.

In the State of Indiana, a partial list of their duties includes:

* Patrol of county, state, and federal roads to detect and apprehend criminal and traffic law violators.
* Investigate vehicle crashes.
* Perform a wide variety of courtesy services.
* Make death notifications.
* Attempt to locate motorists and/or other people for the delivery of emergency information.

Indiana's 1st black state trooper was Jim Sears in 1962. At the time, State Police Superintendent Melvin Carraway said Sears was a mentor for blacks who aspired to become police officers. Sears retired as Captain in 1992 after 30 years of service. Rubin Hill became the 2nd African American trooper in 1964. Pat King was the 1st African American woman to join the Indiana State Police in the 1980s.
Attorney Jerome Ezell has played an integral role in serving our Hoosier communities. Having served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968, Jerome joined the Indiana State Police in 1968, fulfilling his lifelong goal of becoming a state trooper. He also served as Director of Pioneers of the Indiana State Police, contributing valuable insight with over five decades of experience. We are thankful for the gallant service that Mr. Ezell and others have provided for the citizens of the State of Indiana.


Jerome Ezell, 2025

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

Dale Botting, a renowned Canadian business leader

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Dale Botting, a renowned Canadian business leader and executive coach whose career spans several sectors, including economic development, international trade, biotechnology, and public policy. He is the founder of the Global Alliance for Professional Leadership Development and was inducted into the Canadian Business Coaches ' Hall of Fame. They discuss the current state of trade relations between Canada and the United States of America, with him contributing his Canadian business expertise to the conversation.

From The US-Canada Trade War Begins: What it Means for our Economy (Dawood Khan)

For over 100 years, the United States and Canada have collaborated closely due to their shared border and robust connections in trade and security. But in recent years, their relationship has faced some challenges. Nevertheless, relations have been strained considerably since President Trump began his global Tariff war. At present, President Donald Trump states that the U.S. will immediately terminate trade talks with Canada and impose a new tariff rate on the neighboring country within the next week. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, cited a decision by Canada to leave in place its digital services tax on American companies, which he cast as "a direct and blatant attack" on the United States. This announcement comes in the wake of repeated suggestions that Canada become the “51st” state of the United States.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

In today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Dr. Alwiya Saleh Omar and Dr. Ng'uono Okelo to discuss World Kiswahili Language Day. Both Dr. Omar and Dr. Ng’uono are affiliated with the African Studies Program and the National African Language Resource Center at Indiana University's Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Dr. Omar is from Tanzania, and Dr. Okelo is from Kenya.


World Kiswahili Language Day is celebrated on July 7  each year. According to the United Nations, Kiswahili is "one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the world, with over 200 million speakers. It is a vital tool of communication and integration across East, Central, and Southern Africa, and serves as an official language of the African Union (AU), SADC, and the EAC. Kiswahili is more than a language—it is a vessel of African identity, unity, and culture. From its role in liberation movements, including those led by Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, to its modern use in education, diplomacy, and media, Kiswahili continues to foster regional cohesion and global cultural understanding."
Recognized by UNESCO as the first African language to be honored with its own international day, Kiswahili embodies the power of multilingualism to promote diversity, tolerance, and sustainable development. As a bridge between communities and civilizations, it plays a critical role in quality education, cultural preservation, and socio-economic progress. More than just a means of communication, Kiswahili is a carrier of identity, values, and a worldview, representing the rich cultural tapestry of the African continent.
In acknowledgment of its growing global significance, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/78/312, further affirming the importance of Kiswahili in fostering solidarity, peace, and pan-African unity."
The Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market will holding a World Kiswahili Language Day on Saturday, July 5 with Dr. Alwiya Saleh Omar and Dr. Ng'uono Okelo:

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

Today's program is a rebroadcast from June 9, 2025, in honor of the upcoming Juneteenth holiday on Thursday, June 19. We also invite you to celebrate the holiday at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center Courtyard. This year's celebration will feature a self-guided Black cultural walking tour, a cakewalk, food, music, and fellowship. They are located at 275 North Eagleson Avenue, and the celebration starts from Noon to 3 PM on June 19.



On June 24, there will also be a celebration of Black Music at the Blockhouse Bar at 8 PM, located at 205 S Collge Ave.

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Andrew Shannon, City of Bloomington Director of Safe and Civil Cities, and Bring It On Contributor, Dr. Gloria Howell, director of the IU Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, to discuss Bloomingtons's celebration of Juneteenth.

Andrew Shannon, City of Bloomington Director of Safe and Civil Cities

Dr. Gloria Howell, Director of the IU Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center

The City of Bloomington invites the community to celebrate Juneteenth from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 13,  at Switchyard Park, 1601 S. Rogers St.  The event is a free and family-friendly way to honor Black Americans' history, resilience, and culture.  The holiday marks the historic moment on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to proclaim the freedom of enslaved Black Americans, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Long celebrated by Black communities, Juneteenth became the 11th official federal holiday in 2021, recognizing its enduring importance in American history.

 



This year’s celebration will feature live entertainment beginning at 6:10 p.m. with DJ Darran Mosley, followed by a performance by Troy Thomas and Trumusiq at 7:15 p.m. Guests are invited to explore a vibrant vendor market featuring Black-owned businesses, enjoy a variety of food options from food truck vendors, and take part in health and wellness services provided on-site by the Bloomington Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health and Indiana University Hoosier Health Check teams. All activities will take place outdoors at Switchyard Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy a meaningful celebration of freedom, culture, and unity. For more information, visit the City of Bloomington Juneteenth webpage at bloomington.in.gov/Juneteenth.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our assistant producer is Liz Mitchell.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

In this edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour with Natalia Almanza of the Indiana University Arts and Humanities Council; Dr. Olivia Ekeh, faculty member in the IU African American and African Diaspora Studies; and, our good friend and BIO contributor, Dr. Gloria Howell, director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, to talk about all the happenings surrounding Black Music Month, the Bloomington Granfalloon Festival, and the upcoming visit by Mavis Staples.

Natalia Almanza, Indiana University Arts and Humanities Council

Dr. Olivia Ekeh, faculty member in the IU African American and African Diaspora Studies

Dr. Gloria Howell, Director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center

 

Mavis Staples of the famed singing group, The Staple Singers

Black Music Month, traditionally celebrated each June, honors the profound contributions of Black artists to the development and evolution of music across genres. From jazz and blues to soul, R&B, hip-hop, and beyond, Black musicians have shaped the soundscape of the world and continue to influence global music culture today. This month will also host the Bloomington Granfalloon.

The Granfalloon is presented by the IU Arts and Humanities Council and is inspired by legendary Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Granfalloon brings together musicians, artists, thinkers, and good people from all walks of life for a celebration of art, ideas, and community. The festival kicks off the Bloomington summer arts season.

The Staple Singers with Soul Train host Don Cornelius in 1974

The Bloomington Granfalloon festival events occur in venues all around Bloomington and encompass a wide range of creative forms, including live music concerts, literary readings, art exhibits, film screenings, theatrical performances, panel discussions, craft workshops, and interactive demonstrations. This year’s special Granfalloon festival is legendary performing artists, activists, and the musician, Mavis Staples of the famed singing group, The Staples Singers.

Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our assistant producer is Liz Mitchell.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

On today's edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Jim Sims, Dr. Charlie Nelms, and Dr. Gloria Howell to shed light on the continuing controversy surrounding Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and offer their perspectives on what the political and educational horizon looks like in Indiana.



On Monday, May 19, Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith faced tough questions on race and education during an Ellettsville town hall. According to Ethan Sandweiss of Indiana Public Media, Beckwith met with some of his most dissatisfied constituents. An hour before the meeting, opponents had already showed up in force. Clergy, activists, and elected officials arranged a 'Rally against Racism' protest against Beckwith’s controversial defense of the three-fifths compromise.

Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith

Beckwith had contradicted mainstream historians, arguing that the 18th-century agreement to count enslaved Black people as three-fifths of a person when determining the number of seats in Congress was intended to limit the power of slaveholding states. Bring it On! had addressed this erroneous view during our May 5th broadcast.

President of the Monroe County NAACP, Jim Sims, was not buying Beckwith’s explanation but said it’s not from the lieutenant governor that he’s asking for accountability. “I think Beckwith has shown his true character. Now, just as importantly, I wonder as I'm sure you do too, why hasn't Governor Braun denounced his lieutenant governor's attempt to distort this historical narrative?” Braun appeared to rebuke Beckwith for his comments in April, but Sims believes his response was insufficient.

Also, it should be noted that on May 22, Indiana University announced that:
"To further ensure compliance with state and federal guidance, the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will sunset, effective today. The university is also directing campuses, schools and units to take necessary steps to ensure compliance with state and federal policies and guidance. Finally, the Office of Institutional Equity has transitioned to become the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, which more accurately reflects its work and mission to oversee the university’s compliance with federal civil rights laws."

Because “Silence is not an Option!” on tonight's edition of Bring It On!, we are here for a discussion on the DEI dismantling efforts in Indiana and the Nation.



Credits:
Today’s host is Clarence Boone.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

 

 

IBLC Protest Rally

On today's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the hour discussing recent Indiana Senate Bill 289, which aims to repeal provisions concerning university diversity committees and prohibit unlawful discrimination in education, public employment, and licensure.

Sen. La Keisha Jackson, D-Indianapolis, called the bill a “fight against racial equality.” Meanwhile, Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith has erroneously claimed that the Three-Fifths Compromise was a decisive step towards ending slavery.  The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) has condemned Beckwith's statement as inaccurate.

In summary, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the IBLC, condemns the Three-Fifths Compromise as a strategy rooted in Southern Slave owners' efforts to institutionalize the idea that African-Americans are less than a person while also ensuring Southern states a greater share of political power, thereby, strenthening the institution of slavery, within the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Although nullified by the 14th and 15th Amendments, ratified in 1868 and 1870, which granted equal Constitutional rights to all, the corrosive effects of systemic racism still adversely affected the civil rights of the formerly disenfranchised and their descendants.

Here to shed more light upon this controversy and to delve into the history of the Three-Fifths Compromise is Robin Winston, a political strategist and former State Democratic Party Chair.  In 1999, he made history when he became the first African American to chair a major political party in Indiana. We are also joined by State Rep Cherrish Pryor, who has served as a legislator in the Indiana House of Representatives since November 4, 2008. She is currently the Indiana House Democratic Caucus Floor Leader and is a member of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. And finally, Leon Bates, a local Indianapolis historian who focuses on areas of Urban History, including Education, Housing, Labor, Medicine, Policing, Violence, and the Intersection of Race.



Credits:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Our show’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our assistant producer is Liz Mitchell.
Our consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
Our program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
Our original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

This program originally aired on March 25, 2024:

Sandra Chapman, investigative reporter
In this edition of Bring It On!, hosts, Clarence Boone and Gloria Howell, spend the hour with investigative reporter and documentarian, Sandra Chapman.

In 2001, Chapman aired on WISH-TV in Indianapolis a series of reports on the murder of Carol Jenkins. Jenkins was murdered on September 16, 1968, after a day of selling encyclopedias in Martinsville; thus, becoming known as a ‘sundown town’. After the airing of these reports, Chapman would later receive a phone call from a woman who claims to have seen her murder.


Eventually, this phone call led to discovering who Carol Jenkins’ murderer was. In 2011, Chapman published The Girl in the Yellow Scarf, a book about the murder of Carol Jenkins and the work of the efforts of Martinsville’s cold case unit to solve this case. She would later make a documentary with the same name. Tonight Sandra Chapman is here to discuss the murder and what led her to investigate this cold case.

Credits:

Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Gloria Howell.
Bring It On’s Executive Producer is Clarence Boone.
Tonight’s Assistant Producer is Liz Mitchell.
The Show Consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.Program Engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

President Donald Trump holds up a signed executive order as school children display their copies at a White House education event (AP).

On today's edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with April Hennessey, the board president of the Monroe County Community School Corporation, and Dountonia S. Batts, a community advocate and board member of the Indiana Coalition of Public Education (ICPE). They discuss the impact of Trump's most recent executive order, which directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to start dismantling the Department of Education.

Congressional approval, however, would be needed to fully abolish the department. Trump said that he hoped Democrats would vote in favor of legislation to do that. Seated at the signing was Indiana Governor Mike Braun, whom the President warmly acknowledged. Trump's agenda seems to be matched also Indiana. Not only is Governor Braun a supporter of Trump's agenda, but, on January 8, 2025, Indiana Representative Jake Teshka, Jeffrey Thompson, and Timothy O’Brien introduced Indiana House Bill 1136 for consideration. HB 1136 provides that:

"...if more than 50% of students who have legal settlement in a school corporation were enrolled in a school that is not operated by the school corporation on the 2024 fall average daily membership count date, the school corporation must be dissolved and all public schools of the school corporation must be transitioned to operating as charter schools. Establishes a new governing board, requirements, and procedures regarding the dissolution and reorganization of the applicable school corporations."

To date, this legislation appears to be dead in the legislature.

Here to shed light upon this Executive Order by Donald Trump, proposed educational bills in the Indiana legislature, and their views on charter and public schools are April Hennessey, board president of the Monroe County Community School Corporation, and Dountonia S. Batts, community advocate and board member of the Indiana Coalition of Public Education (ICPE).

April Hennessey, board president of the Monroe County Community School Corporation

Dountonia S. Batts, community advocate and board member of the Indiana Coalition of Public Education (ICPE)

Credits:
Today’s host is Clarence Boone.
Bring It On’s Executive Producer is Clarence Boone.
Our Assistant Producer is Liz Mitchell.
The Show Consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
The Program Engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

This program originally aired on February 17, 2025:

On this President’s Day, not even a month into the second term of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America, uncertainty and chaos have escalated to unprecedented levels through the use of seemingly haphazard presidential executive orders and decrees from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) that face little to no oversight from an apparently impotent Republican Congress.

We are currently witnessing a dismantling of established federal agencies by an unelected billionaire with no resistance from a muted Republican-led Congress. Closer to home in Indiana, within hours of being inaugurated as Governor Mike Braun, signed a flurry of detrimental Executive Orders, such as Executive Order #25-14 which states executive branch state agencies may not use state funds or resources to “support diversity, equity or inclusion positions, departments, activities, procedures or programs if they grant preferential treatment based upon one person’s particular race, color, ethnicity, or national origin, over that of another person.”

On today’s edition of Bring It On!, hosts, Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell, tackle this issue with former University Chancellor, Dr. Charlie Nelms, and Director of Undergraduate Studies in African American and African Diaspora Studies, Dr. Valerie Grim.
Dr. Charlie Nelms, former University Chancellor
Dr. Valerie Grim, Director of Undergraduate Studies in African American and African Diaspora Studies
CREDITS:
Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Bring It On!’s executive producer is Clarence Boone.
Our assistant producer is Liz Mitchell.
The show consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
The program engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom with additional background tracks by David B.

On today's edition of Bring It On!, host Clarence Boone spends the hour with Indiana University doctoral student, Latonya Wilson, and fellow MLK Commission member and Bring It On contributor, Dr. Gloria Howell, the director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, to discuss the 57th anniversary of Dr. King's assassination on April 4, 1968. Further, as representatives of the City of Bloomington's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission, Latonya Wilson and Dr. Gloria Howell explore the historical significance of his life and death and his legacy of social justice.

Dr. Gloria Howell, Director of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission Member

Latonya Wilson, Indiana University Doctoral Student and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission Member

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits:
Today’s host is Clarence Boone.
Bring It On’s Executive Producer is Clarence Boone.
Our Assistant Producer is Liz Mitchell.
The Show Consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
The Program Engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.

 

On tonight's edition of Bring It On!, hosts Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell spend the evening speaking with, first, with Jael Davise, the recipient of the City of Bloomington’s Commission on the Status of Women’s 2025 “Young Woman of the Year”. Next, we then talk with Danielle Bruce, the Director of Resilience Productions. She is here to discuss the Remarkable Women’s Series, which features an evening retrospect on the inspiring life of Judge Viola Taliaferro.

Jael Davis, recipient of the City of Bloomington’s Commission on the Status of Women’s 2025 “Young Woman of the Year”

Danielle Bruce, the Director of Resilience Production

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Credits: Today’s hosts are Clarence Boone and Liz Mitchell.
Bring It On’s Executive Producer is Clarence Boone.
Our Assistant Producer is Liz Mitchell.
The Show Consultant and WFHB News Department Director is Kade Young.
The Program Engineer is Chantalle LaFontant.
The original theme music was created by Jamyl Efiom, with additional background tracks by David Baker.